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I have been cleaning the outside of my differential housing (probably up to over a pound of caked-on debris removed). I am pretty sure it is a 9 inch but let me know. See pic. Notice there is only one vertical rib.
There is a raised marking on the passenger side front of the housing. It appears to say "D" , "I" or "1" , then maybe the top half of a "5" , then there is "7". Any ideas?
I am trying to figure out how to replace the gasket. When I pull it, do I need to pull the axles? If so, how?
By the way, do you recommend replacing the gasket with a new one or using a sealant such as Permatex Ultra Gray?
Thanks, Michael
Last edited by Michael Gallo; Sep 16, 2020 at 07:41 AM.
Reason: Clarify title
I have been cleaning the outside of my differential housing (probably up to over a pound of caked-on debris removed). I am pretty sure it is a 9 inch but let me know. See pic. Notice there is only one vertical rib.
There is a raised marking on the passenger side front of the housing. It appears to say "D" , "I" or "1" , then maybe the top half of a "5" , then there is "7". Any ideas?
I am trying to figure out how to replace the gasket. When I pull it, do I need to pull the axles? If so, how?
By the way, do you recommend replacing the gasket with a new one or using a sealant such as Permatex Ultra Gray?
Thanks, Michael
Definitely a 9 inch rear end. The axles need to be unbolted and removed before the carrier can be removed. Use a deep socket or extension through the holes in the hubs to get onto the heads of the bolts. I'd also recommend a shop manual for your year of truck. Very handy. You'll be able to answer questions like this for yourself and it has a lot of great pertinent info that is hard to relay in a message here.
Michael: I'm no help on the markings, and if it was me, I would be carrying on with the cleaning before removing the pumpkin from the housing
As far as removal, yes, the axles engage into the side gears of the pumpkin, so the pumpkin is not coming out until the axles are removed. You'll need to remove wheels and drums to get to the axle retainer bolts. And a wise man would pick up some new copper washers, they go on the studs protruding from the housing before the nuts that retain the pumpkin go back on . And yes, RTV is an acceptable substitute for a pumpkin gasket, but don't get too crazy, enough to seal, not enough to ice a cake Axles retainer plates, I would spring for gaskets, and IIRC, there are four (Two per side), one between brake backing plate and housing, one between axle retainer plate and brake backing plate. Judging by the gunge on your diff, it would be prudent to use new , as the originals are clearly not sealing anything at this point......
The markings are mostly just shy of worthless to get into.
DIF = Dearborn Iron Foundry - found on many cast parts from Ford axles and transmissions to engine blocks. Nothing to know other than it was cast in Dearborn, Michigan.
I have been cleaning the outside of my differential housing (probably up to over a pound of caked-on debris removed). I am pretty sure it is a 9 inch but let me know. See pic. Notice there is only one vertical rib.
There is a raised marking on the passenger side front of the housing. It appears to say "D" , "I" or "1" , then maybe the top half of a "5" , then there is "7". Any ideas?
I am trying to figure out how to replace the gasket. When I pull it, do I need to pull the axles? If so, how?
By the way, do you recommend replacing the gasket with a new one or using a sealant such as Permatex Ultra Gray?
Thanks, Michael
Just above the Diff 7 there is the actual date code.
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